Naming a Rogue-like

Game Play & Game Design
#1

I’m working ever-so-slowly on an open source Rogue-like. It is based upon Canaanite myth, but I’m making the Canaanite gods look like angels (though somewhat more bird-like). I was calling it Angelband, but it’s not an actual Angband variant. So it seems like somewhat of a misnomer.

This might be pointless because all you can do in the “game” right now is walk around and open door. But I figured I’d post this anyways.

And then I arbitrarily starting changing references to the game to “UgaritRL”, a name I had chosen. Then I heard from one guy that “Angelband” is better. I’m looking for some feedback about the following possible names:

Angelband
Canaanband
CanaanRL
Canaan Testament
Tablets of Destiny (is actually from Sumerian myth)
Testament Rogue
The Canaangate Scandal
The Ugarit Conspiracy
The Ugarit Scandal
Ugaritband
UgaritRL
Ugarit Testament

All the *bands sound like Angband, so I think they’re a little bit inappropriate. The “Rogue” entries might be equally inappropriate because it’s not a variant of Rogue, but I think it’s more generic (though also perhaps confusing). “RL” stands for “Rogue-like”. “Canaan” is the country the myths come from, and “Ugarit” is the city the myths were found in.

The Rogue-like won’t have much of a plot, but it’s sort of a prototype for a more normal RPG, which will have a plot. Unfortunately, I can’t just name the game after the myths because I’m blending them together with eachother, adding some background material from the Book of Enoch, and adding aliens, robots, demons, and the kitchen sink.

Again, at this point, all you can do in the game is walk and open a door.

#2

Interesting setting! I like it. I’m basing mine in Ancient Babylonia so it’s somewhat nearby.

I prefer the name Ugarit. The only slight drawback is that it is pretty much unknown to the mainstream. If the game is about the gods then perhaps add a well-known god to the name e.g. Baal of Ugarit. Or Ugarit Dagon.

If the setting is pretty important to the game then I would leave off the RL or *band. Let the name stand on its own.

#3

The main reason I was leaning towards Ugarit over Canaan was that someone on another forum said that Canaan sounded biblical.

I plan on focusing on some of the more obscure characters in Canaanite myth. In the first game, I think you’ll be able to pick between Athtar and a female who I haven’t chosen. In the second game, it will be Elihu (one of the sons of Keret, who might not actually have been a god) and probably Qetesh.

The first game is more of a prototype for the second game than anything else. It won’t have much of a plot and will be similar in spirit to Angband, though it will have actual graphics (albeit poorly drawn and unanimated graphics) and will be much more modern.

I want to add RL to the name to separate it from the 2nd game, which will be a more standard RPG.

The 2nd game will kind of be a mish-mash of the Legend of Keret and the beginning of the Baal Cycle. Since it will contain the end of one myth and the beginning of another, I don’t see any way to name it after one or the other.

Do you have a website for your game yet? I’m interested in keeping tabs on it since we both seem to have the same general idea, even though our two games might be completely different.

#4

Canaan is Biblical. It’s also the name of a current flash game canaan.gpotato.eu. There is also an Anime with the same name. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10270

#5

Why don’t you want to include a plot? Setting seems interestng and fresh…

Anyway i would add something unique to a mythical name, just to avoid competing with wikipedia on google search.

Something like “Canaan Carnage”, or “Uwe (the hero) whips the Ugarits”

#6

Not yet. I’m hoping to demo part of the engine in a month or so and will keep you posted.

#7

I’m saving the plot for the 2nd game. The 1st game is really just a prototype of sorts, but I’m going to make it open source and give it away for free.

The 2nd game will be the same basic engine + character animation, real artwork, and a plot. The 1st game is pretty much a test run for various features and an opportunity for me to make a game with random dungeon generation.